Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Barinas Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Barinas

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,641 per month in Medellin vs $52.5 in Barinas, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,447 per month in Medellin vs $79.0 in Barinas, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,253 per month in Medellin vs $106 in Barinas, rent included.

Medellin costs about 3026% more than Barinas, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Medellin sits 19% above the global median, while Barinas is 96% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.04 COP 24.8K

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$48.29 COP 148.7K

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.42 COP 29.0K

Cappuccino

$2.94 COP 9,045

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.86 COP 5,738

$0.98 VES 810

89.80%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.46 COP 4,481

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.21 COP 9,887

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.71 COP 17.6K

Milk (1 liter)

$1.44 COP 4,431

White Bread (500g)

$2.40 COP 7,393

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.70 COP 5,230

$1.07 VES 887

58.88%

Eggs

$2.89 COP 8,901

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.06 COP 31.0K

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.97 COP 30.7K

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.20 COP 43.7K

Apples (1kg)

$3.98 COP 12.3K

Banana (1kg)

$1.58 COP 4,880

Oranges (1kg)

$2.15 COP 6,627

Tomato (1kg)

$2.30 COP 7,082

$1.21 VES 1,006

90.08%

Potato (1kg)

$2.00 COP 6,172

Onion (1kg)

$1.51 COP 4,648

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.20 COP 3,703

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.28 COP 3,948

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.84 COP 11.8K

Wine (Bottle)

$14.01 COP 43.1K

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.71 COP 5,259

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.74 COP 8,444

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.25 COP 3,836

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$77.9 COP 239.9K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.31 COP 4,018

$2.97 VES 2,463

-55.89%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.17 COP 6,684

$4.99 VES 4,142

-56.51%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.29 COP 25.5K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.36 COP 4,174

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$27.5K COP 84.6M

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$36.5K COP 112.5M

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$169 COP 519.5K

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$13.57 COP 41.8K

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$28.32 COP 87.2K

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$45.71 COP 140.8K

$9.93 VES 8,246

360.32%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.22 COP 53.0K

Cinema Ticket

$6.65 COP 20.5K

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$803 COP 2.5M

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,190 COP 28.3M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$87.4 COP 269.0K

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$59.4 COP 182.8K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$139 COP 427.7K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$102 COP 314.2K

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,071 COP 3.3M

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$653 COP 2.0M

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,925 COP 5.9M

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,048 COP 3.2M

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,123 COP 12.7M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,697 COP 5.2M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$655 COP 2.0M

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

10.94

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Medellin: September 7, 2026

Last update for Barinas: September 5, 2026

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Medellin vs Barinas: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $1,641 in Medellin, $52.5 in Barinas – roughly 3026% apart. Medellin costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,462 per month in Medellin and $78.8 in Barinas. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,641 in Medellin and $52.5 in Barinas. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 2806% more in Medellin, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Barinas, where all-in costs run around $52.5, than in Medellin at $1,641. In Barinas it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Medellin has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $52.5 in Barinas to $1,641 in Medellin. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

If budget matters most, go with Barinas. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Medellin makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.